This very young baseball season has been so much fun, just to have the sport back but obviously for the 10-3 record through Sunday.

Then Jerry Blevins received a fractured arm and Travis d'Arnaud a fractured hand within minutes of each other as the Mets beat the Marlins.

Since the first weird days of 1962, Mets fans have known that following this team demands great mood shifts. But this is ridiculous, after promising the Higher Power, just get me through this nuclear winter of Little Anthony and the No-Names and let me watch Juan Lagares chase fly balls. .Baseball is liberation from the yammering of cable news. . It’s sticking up for Bartolo Colon’s right to start opening day and watching him win his first three starts – and driving in runs in two consecutive games – and fielding his position, for goodness’ sakes.

I went to opening day at New Shea, hordes of macho males (and females, too), whacked on alcohol or testosterone or who knows what, conducting the rites of spring that reminded me of Brueghel and Bosch, collaborating on their epic St. Patrick’s Day in the Lower Depths of Penn Station. Nobody watched the game. Back home, games are faster, so much faster so that you cannot click away and watch a snippet of a movie you never knew existed. Now, when you click back, there is already an out and a runner on first. Congratulations, baseball, for making those lugs stay in the batter’s box. The Mets and the Other Team in Town have opened with division rivals. This is a wonderful thing because the games have extra value for post-season possibilities, but more immediately because they bring home the familiar faces, the worthy oppositions. In the Madoff Era, the Mets have been the soft underbelly of the National League. Now they are going through the first two weeks – Bryce Harper and the Nationals, Andrelton Simmons and the Braves, Chase Utley and the Phillies, Giancarlo Stanton and the Marlins. But what is Ryan Howard doing lurking in the Phillies’ dugout? One thing I hate about contemporary big-biz baseball: the looming salary dump, further devaluing gallant players who got a bit old or a bit hurt. After two weeks, the timid, repressed optimist dares to whisper, “Wait…those teams aren’t that great right now.” Spring. Early spring. False spring. Who knows? Out-of-town box scores vanish from the printed page. You could spend an entire breakfast or commute checking the box scores. Now you have to read the front page. Yikes. But at least there is the two-week glory of watching Soft Hands Lucas Duda hitting to the left side, playing grounders like a big cat. Sandy Alderson was right. This guy is no oaf.

Then again, how could the Mets send down Eric Campbell and open the season with a four-player bench? Campbell came back swinging hard -- and his throws from third base are special, too. Now the Mets have to replace two players who have been so vital in these early days.

Meanwhile, on the team from another borough, Alex Rodriguez, the man we love to hate, is keeping the Anonymous Yankees almost respectable. Maybe he will shame the owners into paying him his bonus.

Love the Brueghel and Bosch! George, I can't help thinking that Yankee fans feel like the players work for them, too, while as far as Mets fans go, it's you and us together against management. Therein lies a huge difference. Which is why it seems so delightfully refreshing that despite the Wilpons' tone-deaf entreaties to the fans, despite the still oh-so-tight purse strings, despite whatever Sandy Alderson is saying (Do we ever really know?), the little things that matter are coming up roses for the Mets. Certainly Harvey and deGrom, but also what a spark Colon brings, what a Wright-like leader/spokesperson Cuddyer has become. (And just in time!). And Lagares - just sit in the bleachers sometime and hear how much Lagares-love there is. And a full nine innings worth! On the other side of town, however, it seems always to be raining... boos. There's such a short trigger for Yankee fans, it's virtually impossible to succeed in an environment like that. Nathan Eovaldi gets booed during the second inning of his first start of the season?! Stephen Drew gets booed for coming to the plate?! (And then hits a grand slam.) It's why it's now possible for A-Rod to be forgiven and to be championed vs management - he's the only one doing anything!!! The Mets are playing (and so is Citi Field btw) like every day is Fan Appreciation Day. As for the Yankees, once that day's actually put on the schedule for real - they'll probably have to trot out some of their former greats to pull it off. Oh, and A-Rod, I guess. Until then...

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George Vecsey

4/18/2015 03:39:41 am

Hey, Nick, nice to hear from you. You write so well about baseball.
Sure, I think there is a big difference between NYY and Mets fandom -- partially based on history and expectations, to be fair.
Spot on about Cuddyer. I like his attitude and I notice his quotes, positive and also astute, are showing up. Reminds me of Cliff Floyd when he arrived. Enjoy the day. GV

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Ed Martin

4/18/2015 03:59:48 pm

GV. Promise you won't wake me up from this technicolor dream...

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Mendel

4/19/2015 04:50:53 am

Teenage daughter to her optimistic brothers: “The Mets are always good at the beginning of the season.” Hope springs eternal!

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George Vecsey

4/19/2015 05:59:08 am

When I was covering for Newsday in the 60s, the Mets always lost their opener...I think they won a World Series before they won an opener. This 8-3, to me, is a surprise. But pitching was the start in mid-60s...and maybe it could be again. GV

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Mendel

4/19/2015 06:40:59 am

Then from ’71-’83 they only lost once. If my son’s wanna believe I am not stopping them.

Altenir Silva

4/19/2015 06:08:58 am

Dear George,

The Mets are making a great job. Congratulations. By the way, I loved the funny-line "Pay-Rod". I think it'll be the plot of the season to the Yankees.

Best - Altenir

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George Vecsey

4/19/2015 07:19:25 am

Altenir: It's your next script. The surprising underdog. Man of the people. Pay-Rod. (My daughter Laura gave him that name when she was the sports columnist in Seattle, and he left for Texas, saying it wasn't about the money.)
GV

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Altenir Silva

4/19/2015 11:02:23 am

Dear George,

Good idea of your daughter Laura. Funny-line. I laughed a lot.

As I like A-Rod (nobody is perfetc) the movie would be titled "The Man Who Strew Too Much".

NY METS (10-3) Wow, this is nice. I'm happy too, Yankees (6-6). The season is just beginning. We'll watch many plots. The baseball is in the air... again.

Best - Altenir

Ed Martin

4/19/2015 03:55:12 pm

Not sure when Alan's comment will show up, I got a notice of it in email.
In any event his memories of Mel Allen's home run calls, etc. made me competitive. Red Barber, Connie Desmond and later Vince Scully were "cooler" than Mel. Not overt fans, no "we" beat them, etc. "Sittin in the Catbird Seat,'said Red when things were looking good for the Brooklyns. Meanwhile Gladys Gooding was playing, "Oh give me the Moon over Brooklyn, When the long,long day is through, I'll be strolling with Mazie down Flatbush Avenoo..."

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George Vecsey

4/20/2015 12:55:22 am

Ed, Alan is a busy guy -- goalkeeper coach as septuagenarian, web stuff. I come from your side of the old NY rivalry (Goodding had 2 Ds) but I will say that Mel Allen was an original -- another form of the antic homer broadcaster -- Rizzuto Sterling. My taste is Barber-Scully. And let us not forget Connie Desmond....I never heard that Brooklyn song. They don't name girls Mazie any more! GV

I believe that Red called Yankee games for a few years, which is when I began to appreciate him.

I grew up in Washington Heights, where the rivalry among Yankee, Giant and Dodger fan’s had a tribal aspect. Reason was rarely a factor.

Later, as I began reading about the baseball world outside of the Bronx, I developed a greater respect for the Brooklyn organization.

The Yankees gave their fans lots of championships, but the Bums had the fabric of their neighborhood.

The former owner of the house that we just purchased in Pittsfield, MA, William McNeil, was a Dodger historian , http://www.amazon.com/The-Dodgers-Encyclopedia-William-McNeil/dp/1582616337. I never told the real estate agent that I was a Yankee fan.

There were baseball caps on the wall that went back probably fifty years, which was very cool.

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Edwin W. Martin

4/20/2015 01:44:00 pm

Here is a bit more I remember
from Moon over Brooklyn,
"I've seen the moon over Bali Bali,
And the moon over Waikiki,
But I'd give it all for one ballgame
And Mazie to see it with me.

Oh give me the Moon over Brooklyn,,,

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George Vecsey

4/20/2015 02:16:40 pm

GIVE ME THE MOON OVER BROOKLYN

--Guy Lombardo Lyrics, 2 others wrote music

Just give me the moon over Brooklyn
When the long long day is through
I'll be waltzing with Mazie
Down Flatbush Avenue,
Just give me the Moon over Brooklyn,
Let me add a thing or two,
Perambulating with Mazie on Coney Island every night.
I've seen the moon at Bali Bali, seen the moon at Waikiki
I'd give it up for just one ball game
And Mazie to see it with me.
Just give me the moon over Brooklyn,
Let me add a dream or two,
Perambulating with Mazie
Down Flatbush Avenue
I don't mean Broadway - Flatbush Avenue

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Alan D. Levine

4/28/2015 07:17:55 am

The out-of-town box scores haven't vanished from the Daily News. So I spend an additional buck and a quarter most days. At least I can read about my Mets, not some high school squash team in Winnipeg, or wherever. By the way, where has Michael Powell disappeared to?

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George Vecsey

4/28/2015 08:17:14 am

Alan, we both know there is nothing like a whole page of box scores, current, I feel I am falling behind. Box scores on line are stopgap, for pro-active research.
You don't like rock-climbing stories?
I'm way out of the loop. I will admit I love whatever Dan Barry writes. Have you read his longest-game book? It is beautiful. see you soon, I think. GV

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bruce

5/8/2015 02:36:37 am

George,

visiting for the first time in a few weeks. Brueghel and Bosch!?....you're almost subversive. expect a tough time the next time you go thru American customs. I finally got to enjoy bosch's garden of earthly delights in late October at the prado in Madrid. had wanted to see it ever since I first discovered it decades ago. probably qualifies as one the biggest jumps out of time in artistic history....

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Alan D. Levine

5/8/2015 07:35:15 am

Catching up. Yes, George, I did read Dan Barry's book on the longest game. I recommend it to all who comment here, but I bet you've all read it already. Also, yes, Red Barber did announce for the Yankees in the 1960s. He was fired for stating the paid attendance--something like 452 people. Finally, George, it was great seeing you and your bride the other day.

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Coach Joe Mihalich, center, runs practice

OLD JOCKS CHEERMy Hofstra pals went to a practice -- and later the new players won a thriller near buzzer. ​Please see:https://nationalsportsmedia.org/news/my-alma-mater-thrills-some-old-players-